In a tragic incident in Rivers State, scores of traders and passengers are feared dead after three passenger boats, laden with goods, caught fire and exploded at the Bonny/Nembe/Bille jetty in Port Harcourt on Monday evening.
The inferno not only destroyed the passenger boats but also spread to nearby properties, causing substantial damage worth millions of Naira. The incident was reported to have originated from the engines of one of the wooden boats undergoing maintenance.
An eyewitness stated that the fire started from the boat’s faulty engines while a mechanic was working on it. The spark from the engine ignited jerry cans loaded with fuel, making the fire uncontrollable and leading to the explosion, trapping occupants inside the boats.
The boats were preparing to travel to a fishing settlement in Bayelsa State, where traders would buy fish to bring back to Port Harcourt for sale. Several individuals narrowly escaped the tragedy, but others, including traders and passengers, were caught in the flames.
One witness shared a harrowing account, mentioning that a woman who left the boat briefly to buy something returned to find her three children missing. The extent of casualties and the number of lives lost in the tragic incident is yet to be confirmed.
Authorities are expected to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to determine the cause and assess the overall impact on the community.
